Veteran Nigerian entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa, better known as Charly Boy, has opened up about a painful personal experience that almost pushed him into depression.
The 74-year-old revealed that the renaming of a Lagos bus stop once named after him “Charly Boy Bus Stop” to “Baddo Bus Stop” left him emotionally shaken.
According to him, the decision affected his mental well-being so deeply that he felt the need to leave Nigeria temporarily.
In his words: “Life is a bitch, then we die. I had to escape Nigeria just to save my sanity.”
Charly Boy explained that he travelled to Europe to visit his brother, renowned musician Dr Alban, with hopes of finding peace of mind.
“I was to spend three weeks recharging and rebooting. But after just ten days, body begin scratch me like say I forget something for Nigeria, the same place wey dey give me sleepless nights.
Couldn’t even complete two weeks, I ran back,” he shared.
Despite initially seeking relief abroad, the activist returned earlier than expected, admitting that the situation had unsettled him in ways he did not fully understand.
While Charly Boy narrated the incident with humour, he stressed that depression is a real issue many Nigerians face but rarely speak about.
“Depression na real matter. I was lucky to take a break and come back refreshed. But how many people get that kind privilege? Some people no even get where to run to. Dem dey stuck with their pain, smiling on the outside, but bleeding inside,” he said.
He encouraged Nigerians to take mental health seriously and to avoid treating struggles with depression as a weakness or a taboo.
The self-styled Area Fada urged people to speak up and seek help rather than bottling up emotions.
“If Area Fada fit admit say sometimes e dey choke, you too no need to pretend. Speak up, breathe, find your way back. Life go still test us, but make we no let am break us. My people, here’s wishing you a happier month. It shall be well with us,” he concluded.
Charly Boy’s revelation shines light on the importance of acknowledging emotional struggles and encouraging conversations around them.
